Prerequisites for the course: none

 

Shinrin Yoku is a Japanese healing modality that translates to mean “forest bathing.” It surfaced in the 1980’s as a way to offer an eco-antidote to our technology-centered lives and to inspire a reconnection to nature. After four-decades of practice and research, science has supported what many of us already know inherently – that nature itself is a healer.

 

In this course, through 4 modules, we explore, learn and practice this Japanese healing modality.

 

Target audience for this course: Any individual that is looking to deepen their practice of forest bathing, or host + guide forest therapy experiences. Forest therapy can provide an interesting addition to psychotherapy, professional life coaching, expressive arts, meditation, PTSD rehabilitation and more. Individual guides can incorporate their current practices to bring fresh new ideas and “invitations” to the practice.

 

What can you do after this certification:

After receiving this certification, you will be able to host and guide your own forest therapy workshops/experiences. You will be given the step-by-step practice along with tools and handouts to share with your community (ie presentation/slides, practice pdf, invitation pdf and more).

 

Please note: This certification is not just for future guides. Forest bathing is a healing modality, and this course can also be used to inform yourself, as an individual, so that you can make forest bathing a regular practice for your own healing journey.

 

Modules for this certification

Module one - What is forest bathing

• What it is, what its not

• Reciprocity

• History

• Benefits

• Wood-Wide-Web

 

Module two - What does it look like for a practitioner

• The practice described

• The invitations introduced

• Translating the energy of the forest

• Tips + reminders

• The practice experienced (2 hours)

 

Module three - What does it look like for a guide

• The guides responsibilities

• More on invitations

• The seasons

• Yugen

• Shinrin Yoku meditation

• What makes a good trail/location

• What to bring

• Why use a guide

 

Module four – Guide Enhancements

• Tea ceremony

• Retreat

• Closing practices

 

Breakdown of training:

• 7 – Total time in hours including breaks

• 45% - Lecture, 15% - Discussion, 40% - Activity

 

Preregistration is required.